Students transformed a campus lunch period into a showcase of environmental innovation and social impact Feb. 26 at Pinewood High School, where juniors in the Pinewood Scholars Program (PSP) pitched ventures to faculty during a catered “teacher brainstorming lunch.”
Fifteen students enrolled in the program had the chance to present projects developed throughout the year at the Feb. 26 event. Teachers circulated among tables, offering feedback and, in some cases, volunteering to mentor students as they refine their ideas.
The two-year course for juniors and seniors focuses on tackling real-world problems through sustainable, community-centered business models. Admission into the class requires an application and interview, and each year’s cohort develops a new slate of student-led initiatives.
Junior Zachary Gill introduced “Zee’s Bees,” a native “bee hotel” designed to support solitary bee species. Unlike western honeybees, which live in colonies, many native bees nest alone. Gill’s structure uses compressed paper straws housed inside composite decking wood, giving bees a safe place to lay eggs from fall through spring. The straws are replaced every two years to prevent mold and disease. One installation is already at Hidden Villa, and the structure can host up to 100 bee species.
Nearby, junior Ryan Gustavson presented the Sustainability Collaboration, an initiative aimed at helping local restaurants comply with environmental ordinances. His plan includes tailored support for businesses and a tiered certification program recognizing sustainability compliance, with a gold level for restaurants that “go above and beyond.”
Gustavson is seeking approval from the city of Los Altos and has met with the Chamber of Commerce and Environmental Commission to support his initiative.
“This class has given me the autonomy to have this idea,” he said. “I love this class. Everything about it. It’s my favorite.”
Other students blend entrepreneurship with personal passion. Kelsea Ellis founded the Calmify Collective, a sole proprietorship selling fidget toys that she personally designed and produced using a 3D printer, which she sells on Etsy. She said she “built it out of my own experience with anxiety” and wanted to “spread the idea that techniques to calm down should be accessible to kids and adults.”
Rishi Chen, a history enthusiast, is developing the Hidden History Project, an app alerting users when they pass sites of local significance. Working with the Los Altos History Museum, he has compiled 75 locations, including an Ohlone settlement five minutes from campus, and is in talks with the city of Palo Alto to secure funding to get the app placed in app stores.
Meanwhile, junior Riya Srivastava founded Roots of Confidence, which distributes hair and beauty kits to unhoused women through partnerships including Housing Matters in Santa Cruz. In coordinating deliveries and connecting with organizations, she’s learned skills that go beyond the classroom.
“I’ve really learned how to put myself out there and make those cold calls,” Srivastava said. Since January, she has delivered about 70 kits and aims for 200 by semester’s end.
Program organizer Asma Rabbani said the luncheon was designed to expose students to new perspectives and strengthen business models. The broader goal, she said, is to ask: “What are you passionate about? What bothers you – and what are you going to do about it?”
Judging by Thursday’s presentations, Pinewood students are already answering that question.
Editor’s note: This article was updated on March 4, 2026 to include the students’ last names.
